Wildcats Season Ends With Loss
A disappointing season for the Wildcats ended with a disappointing loss to Marshall, 11-1 on the road Monday night. The game was a continuation of one that got underway Friday but was quickly called due to lightning and rain. The game resumed Monday with the Wildcats ahead 1-0 with a runner on first and no one out.
The momentum soon shifted to the Mavericks, who needed a win to stay tied with Hallsville for second in the district. The Mavs scored two runs to take the lead after one inning, 2-1. They scored in every inning adding nine more runs over the next five innings. The game was halted in the bottom of the six inning due to the ten run rule.
Tyler Follis worked the first three innings and took the loss. Heston Golightly pitched the final three innings. Marshall outhit the Wildcats 9 to 8. Easton Silman and Michael Arnold led the Wildcats with two hits apiece. Ryan Humphries had a double.
The Wildcats end the season with a district record of 5-9. Their season mark was 8-14-1.
Regional Track Wrap-up
Wildcats Track Coach Matt Young said distance runner Jacob Gatewood capped off a sensational season competing in the 3200-meter run and 1600-meter run at the regional track meet Friday and Saturday at UT Arlington. Coach Young knew the competition was tough and he hoped Gatewood could finish among the top six. In the 3200-meter run Friday, Gatewood challenged the best runners and was at 4:49 half way through. Coach Young said that was a fast first half for Gatewood. Coach Young said Gatewood was not able to sustain the pace and finished ninth. Gatewood ran the 1600-meters Saturday and he was hoping to break 4:30 in the race. He finished in the 4:40‘s and came in 12th. Gatewood, a senior, ends as one of the best distance runners in recent history. His best 1600-meter time puts him in the top three to run the race as a Wildcat. Gatewood is also one of only three runners to break the 10-minute mark in the 3200-meter run. He will continue his running at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee.
Lady Cats Track Coach Triston Abron took long jumper Imani Taylor and hurdler Abbi Baier to the regional track meet last Friday and Saturday at UT Arlington.
For Taylor, a sophomore, it was her second regional tournament. She placed ninth in the prelims of the long jump. Coach Abron said her jump was not a personal best but he added it was close to her distance at the district meet. Coach Abron said anyone who finishes in the top ten in our region should be extremely proud of that accomplishment.
Abbi Baier competed in the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles. She had prelims for both events Friday. She finished tenth in the 100-meter hurdles and didn’t make the finals. Still Coach Abron said it was her fastest time of the season in the race. He was especially proud of her effort in the 300-meter hurdles prelims. The races took place late Friday night after four weather delays and Baier, a freshman, qualified for Saturday’s final with the third or fourth best time in the field. Saturday Baier came in fourth in the final.
Coach Abron will have Taylor and Baier back next season.
Bond for Roach Increased to $200,000
Bond for Donald Michael Roach, 44, was revoked and reset Monday, May 2, 2016 in Eighth Judicial District Court during a hearing on the state’s request to re-bond. Roach is now under a $200,000 bond. Roach, who was out of jail on bond, was taken into custody Monday morning and returned to Hopkins County Jail.
Roach was arrested and had been in Hopkins County jail following the outcry of a 7-year old child to a relative. He had been on a $150,000 bond for Sex Abuse of a Child Continuous: Victim Under 14-years of age. The child and her mother were living in the same residence with Roach.
According to Chief Criminal Investigator Lewis Tatum, the child told a relative about the continuous sexual abuse and the relative took the child to the Hopkins County Sheriff’s office where a report was made. The child was then taken by Investigator Dennis Findley to the Child Advocacy Center in Winnsboro where she, again, made an outcry during the interview there. Findley then secured a warrant for Roach’s arrest. Hopkins County and Wood County officers went to the residence on Highway 154 South near Yantis where Roach was living at the time. Hopkins County Deputy Scott Davis made the arrest.
Wildcats Baseball May Have One More Game Tonight
The Wildcats’ baseball team may not be done for the season after all. There is the possibility that the Wildcats game at Marshall, postponed Friday night could be made up Monday or Tuesday night. The latest is the game has been rescheduled for 8 p.m. Monday night. That according to Athletic Director Greg Owens. Right now Marshall and Hallsville are tied for second place in the district. Coach Owens said their would be an emergency district meeting Tuesday to resolve any issues left in district baseball prior to bi-district playoff action coming up this weekend. We’ll have more info as we get it.
PJC-Sulphur Springs Campus Offers Beginning Teacher Ed. Courses
Adjunct Instructor Pamela Clayton (center) enjoys her work with students taking the two beginning educational programs offered at Paris Junior College-Sulphur Springs Center. The programs are Introduction to Teaching (1302) and Diverse Populations in a Pluralistic Society (2301). Pictured from left are (front) Whitney Olivares, Clayton and Whitney Shipp; (back) Lacee Merrill and Dalia Torres. To inquire or enroll in these programs, call the campus at 903-885-1232.
Bright Star Baseball Cancels May 2 Game
The Bright Star Baseball game set for Monday May 2 has been cancelled due to wet field conditions.
SSISD Board Special Session Considers New Bowie Prinicpal
Sulphur Springs ISD Board meets in special session Tuesday, May 3rd at noon to swear in incumbent trustees, reorganize board with the election of a President, Vice President, and Secretary. They will also consider the hiring of a new Principal for Bowie Primary School. Carol Worsham recently retired as Principal at Bowie.
Other personnel matters including hiring, reassignment, and resignations will also come before the board.
The board will discuss the personnel matters in Executive Session before reconvening to take action relative to the personnel items discussed.
Flat Tire Deflates Arkansas Man’s Options
Christopher Jerome Strong, 33, of Banks, Arkansas was arrested Sunday night for Failing to Identify and Money Laundering. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a possible vehicle crash between the north service road and I-30 at the 120 mile marker. A flat tire caused the vehicle to leave the interstate roadway. Upon arrival, deputies asked for the driver’s name and date of birth. Strong gave a false name of “Eddie Tatum” that returned no information from dispatch. After being questioned a second time, Strong told deputies that his name was “Eddie Strong,” but the name produced no results. Deputies then questioned Strong a third time and the given name of “Christopher Strong” with a date of birth of “June 6th, 1982” proved to also be false information. Strong was placed into custody and secured in a patrol unit. During an inventory of the vehicle, deputies located a plastic grocery bag containing an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency bundled by rubber bands. Deputies then transported Strong to the Hopkins County Jail where he gave his correct date of birth upon being booked in. It was discovered that Strong was wanted for warrants out of Hot Springs County Arkansas. Strong now sits on $11,000 total bond: $10,000 for Money Laundering greater than $2,500 but less than $30,000 and an additional $1,000 bond for Failure to Identify by Giving False Information.
Yantis ISD Spelling/Vocabulary Team wins Regional Conference
The Yantis High School Spelling/Vocabulary Team won the Conference A Regional Championship at the Regional Academic Meet at Tarleton State University in Stephenville Saturday. Among the 36 teams taking the test at the four Regional Academic Meets throughout the state, the Yantis Spellers achieved the third highest score. Senior Cristo Sanchez led the team with a 1st place finish while Shelbie Shoemaker won 2nd in the individual competition.
Other team members inluded Brandon Highlander and Hope Dixon. The team will advance to the State Academic Meet to compete for the Conference A state championship next month.
